A History Of The Ancient World Vol Ii

342

PLATE XC

RELIGION. ORIENTAL CULTS. ISIS
AND SARAPIS

1. FRAGMENT OF A BAS-RELIEF FOUND AT
ALEXANDRIA. Three figures and half of a fourth are pre-
served : the Alexandrian trinity, Isis, Sarapis, and Harpo-
crates, and half of the figure of Dionysus. The figures of Isis,
Sarapis, and Harpocrates are certainly reproductions of fine
early Hellenistic statues, ist cent. A. D, Louvre, Paris.

2. FRESCO FROM HERCULANEUM. It represents a
religious service before the door and on the stairs leading to
an Egyptian sanctuary in Campania. The priest (prophet),
standing between two attendants, is officiating : he holds in
his hands which are wrapped in his white dress a sacred bowl,
probably containing Nile water. Another priest is leading the
choir of the community which stands in two rows in the court.
A priest is performing a sacrifice on a typical Egyptian horned
altar, while his attendant is kindling the fire on this altar.
Sacred ibises are roaming round. The seated figure to the right
represents probably a cymbalist. In the temple court palm-
trees and Egyptian bushes are growing". Note that the atten-
dants of the priests are black, while the priests themselves and
the congregation are white, ist cent. A. D. Museum, Naples.

3. BAS-RELIEF FOUND AT RpME, probably from one
of the Egyptian sanctuaries of the city. It represents a pro-
cession in honour of Isis. A priestess of Isis leads the proces-
sion. In her right hand is the sacred vessel of Isis (situla), on
her left arm the sacred serpent (uvaeus). Next comes the holy
scribe (hierogrammateus) with his head clean shaved, holding
in his hands the sacred book. After him—the ' prophet' with
the jar of Nile water (see fig. 2), and finally a girl attendant with
the musical instrument of Isis (sistrum) and a spoon (simpulum).
2nd cent. A.D. Vatican, Rome.